Truck sander



N. E. BOWEN 2,698,184

TRUCK SANDER Dec. 28, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 10, 1951INVENTOR. NormaaE.Bawen BY ATTORNEY Dec. 28, 1954 N, BQWEN 2,698,184

TRUCK SANDER Filed March 10, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ii 7 /37 INVENTORL-.

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TRUCK SANDER Filed March 10, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Norma/z E30wax:

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TRUCK SANDER Filed March 10, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 4 INVENTOR. Jig. Jmarina/2E- B owe/1 A T TORNE'Y United States Patent TRUCK SANDER NormanEarle Bowen, Seattle, Wash.

Application March 10, 1951, Serial No. 214,910

Claims. (Cl. 275-45) The present invention relates to improvement intruck sander, and more particularly to a device which may be attachedunder the tail gate of a rear dump body truck for taking sand from suchbody and spreading it upon a highway as the truck drives along thehighway. The present invention is a continuation-in-part of my copendingapplication Serial Number 81,147, filed March 12, 1949, expresslyabandoned by a letter dated December 15, 1951.

Such sanding of highways and roads is necessary when there is icethereon, also, such sanding is often necessary for asphalt roadsduringhot weather.

The prior art shows many special mobile or truck type units speciallydesigned for use in sanding highways. Also, there is shown in the priorart several devices which may be attached to a truck and its body, andwhich are designed to spread sand upon roads or highways. However, theseprior art devices have been unsatisfactory in that a specially designedtruck unit that can be used only for sanding, requires a capitalinvestment that is unwarranted. The attachment units that can be placedon and taken off a standard truck and body have had.

many drawbacks. Some of them require much alteration of the truck drive,chassis, and body to adapt the truck to the sander attachment. Othersrequire an expensive rearrangement to set up a power take-off from thetruck motor for operation of the sander. Others do not have an efiieientsand dispenser or one which will maintain a fixed dispensing positionwith respect to the highway being sanded.

Having in mind these defects of the prior sander, it is an object of thepresent invention to devise a sander that is compact and light enough tobe mounted under the tail gate of a rear dump body truck.

A further object of the present invention is the construction of such asander that may be fed sand from the L body of a dump truck by raisingsuch body.

Another object of the present invention is the devising of such a sanderso that its operation will not be hindered by the presence of occasionalrocks in the sand.

Yet another object of the present invention is the construction of sucha sander so that regardless of the position of the truck body in araised position, the sand will be dispensed in a direction fixed by theposition of the truck chassis. Specifically, the sand will be dispensedparallel to the surface of the road.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of acontrol for the sander so that its opera tion will start as the truckbody is moved from rest on the chassis, and so that its operation willcease as the body is returned to the chassis.

Another object is the maintenance of the sander motor in a positionperpendicular tothe truck chassis.

The above mentioned defects arerernedied and these objects achieved byplacing a hopper in the tail gate opening and under the tail gate of thebody of a rear dump body truck. Suspended by and under this hopper on ahorizontal pivot are a pair of chutes. Each chute receives sand from thehopper and discharges it onto a spinner plate that rotates on a shaftperpendicular to the plane of the truck and coaxial of each chute. Amotor for driving the spinners is carried on the pivot with the chutesand with the spinners.

The pivoted chutes are linked to the chassis, of the truck by aparallelogram four-bar, or four-point, linkage. The line of centers ofthis linkage is-fixed to the truck chassis and the connecting rod isfixed to the pivoted of this lever rotates the shaft 24.

Patented Dec. 28, 1954- be made up of separate links or the links may beformed by parts of the truck chassis, body, hopper, and chutes.- As thetruck body is raised and swings on its trunnion, the tail gate andhopper swing downwardly. This causes the chutes to swing on their pivotand this swing. of the chutes is controlled by the four-bar linkage sothat the axes of the spinner shafts remain parallel to their originalposition. Thus the direction in which sand is dispensed remainsconstant, parallel to the chassis.

A device constructed in accordance with the above outline is hereinafterdescribed in detail and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sander employing the presentinvention and is shown mounted on a dump truck with parts of the truckcut away.

Figure 2 is a side view of the sander and truck parts shown in Figure 1,with the truck body down on the chassis.

Figure 3 is a side view similar to Figure 2 but with the truck bodyshown in raised position off the chassis.

Figure 4 is a rear view of the sander and truck parts shown in theprevious figures.

Figure 5 is a detail in section of a portion of the sander the body andwhich may be swung outwardly and upwardly about the pivot '6 to allowremoval of material from 'the body when it is raised on its trunnion 4.The tail gate may be held in closed position by a latch, not shown inthe present drawings. The truck and its chassis is considered to be in aplane parallel to the ground on which the wheels of the truck rest.

A hopper unit is attached to the truck body by raising the tail gate 5and sliding a hopper unit under the gate and into the tail gate opening.When the sander is in position on the truck, there is a pair of hoppers11, 12 that almost wholly close the back end opening of the truck body3. The two hoppers 11, 12 are secured together to form a single hopperunit. The openings from these hoppers to the truck body are made smallenough so that the hoppers may be used with bodies of many differentsizes. From the outside edge of each hopper, there is pivoted a wing 13,14 that may be swung outwardly to close off the tail gate opening ateach side of the hopper unit, and to fit the unit to various widthbodies. The lower edge of the hopper unit is formed with an angle iron15 that fits against the back edge of the body bottom and is boltedthereto, An adjustable hook 16, 17 at each side of the hopper unit hooksover and above the top edge of the tail gate to aid in holding thehopper unit in the tail gate opening.

Each hopper tapers from its opening into the truck body to its dischargeopening. This discharge opening is in the plane of the truck body floorand rearward of the back edge of the body. Each hopper discharge openingis closed by a feed roll 18, 19 of cylindrical form, and a sand gate 20.These rolls are provided on their faces with longitudinal ribs 22. Thetwo rolls are carried on a shaft 23 which is supported in a mannerhereinafter described. The sand gate of each hopper is journaled on acommon shaft 24. This shaft is loosely carried in extensions of the sidewalls of the hoppers, and lies below the lower hopper wall. To one endof this gate shaft 24 is secured agate shaft adjusting lever 25.Movement Under each sand gate there is a gate spring 26,which has one ormore turns around the gate shaft 24. One end of each spring bears underits adjacent sand gate. The other end of each spring is secured to thegate shaft. Each spring is tensioned between its gate and the shaft 24so that the spring tension holds the gate'upward to' the feeder roll.Tension on the springs and the position of each' gate is varied bymovement of the gate shaft lever 25, and

'side by side chutes 31, 32. These chutes have a common back wall 33 anda common front wall 34. The side of each chute has secured thereto anupstanding ear 35. Each ear carries one of the sleeve bearings 28. Eachof these ears fits between a wall of the hopper and a bearing hangerplate 30. The sleeve bearings 28 are retained in the slots 29 of thehanger plates 30 by the "lock bars 36.

Sand from each feed roll 18, 19 falls down a chute 31,

32 and impinges upon a rotating spinner disc 37, 38

where it is picked up by theradial bars 39, or vanes, and is dischargedfrom the periphery of the disc tangentially of the disc and in the planeof the disc. Each spinner disc is carried on a spinner spindle 41, 42WhlCh is bearinged in a sleeve 43, 44 that is secured at its upper endin the lower wall of a drive tunnel 45, 46. The upper end of the spinnerspindle terminates 1n the drive tunnel and has secured to it a V-beltpulley 47. It will thus be seen that the sand is not dispensed in arandom manner but the sander is directional. The direction may becontrolled by changing the angle of the plane of the discs with respectto any desired referent. In the present instance the plane of the discsis maintained parallel to the chassis and plane of the truck.

Connected to the lower part of the sander unit by a pin 50 is one end ofa crank link 51. The other end of this crank link 51 is connected to thetruck chassis as by means of a pin 51A and a bracket 52 rigidly fastenedto the chassis. The length and positioning of this prank link isimportant and is determined by considering it as a crank in a four-barlinkage, the center lines of which form a parallelogram. The other crankof the linkage has its center line 53 thru and extending between theaxis of the trunnion 4 between the truck body and chassis, and the axisof the feed roll shaft 23. The crank link 51 is placed so that itscenter line is parallel to the center line 53. The center line 54 of theconnecting rod of the four-bar linkage intersects the axis of the feedroll shaft 23 and the axis of the pin connection 50 between the cranklink 51 and the directional sander unit. The line of centers 55, orfixed link, of the four-bar linkage intersects the axis of the trunnion4 and the axis of the pin 51A between the crank link 51 and the chassisbracket 52.

It will thus be seen that, other than the crank link 51, the links ofthe four-bar linkage are made up of parts of the equipment that serveother purposes beside that of their function as part of the four-barlinkage.

Figure 3 shows how this four-bar linkage operates as the truck bed israised to dispense sand into the hoppers and down the chutes to thesander discs. The means, for

raising the body is not shown as such means is well known in the art.

Supported on the chutes 31, 32 and moving therewith about the feed rollshaft 23 is a platform 61 that carries thereon a power plant whichfurnishes power for the.

operation of the sander. In the present showing the power unit is asmall air cooled gasoline engine 62 that is connected thru the clutch 63to the drive shaft 64. This drive shaft 64 is belted to a countershaft65 extending across the back side of the chutes 31, 32 and which shafthas at each end a belt connection 66, 67 to the V-belt pulley 47 at theupper end of each spindle 41, 42 which carries each spinner disc 37, 38.Medially of the countershaft 65 is a belt connection 68 to a jack shaft69 that is bearinged in and supported in the bearing hanger plates 30between the two chutes 31, 32. This jack shaft 69, in turn, has a beltconnection 70 to the feed roll shaft 23. Thru this clutch, shafting andbelts the engine 62'drives the spinner discs and the feed rolls.

The clutch 63 is engaged and disengaged by a series of levers 71, 72,73. An adjustable threaded rod 75 allows for adjustment of this series.A spring 74 places tension, or a bias, on the series so that the freeend of the outer lever 73 of the series will bear against the under sideof the angle forming the lower edge of the hoppers 11'; 12where theycontact the truck body.- Whenthe off the chassis.

truck body is raised off the chassis to start the feeding of sand to thehoppers and spinners, the free end of the outer lever 73 will rise, asshown in Figure 3, and this will actuate the lever series to engage theengine clutch 63. With the engine running, engagement of the clutch willcause the feed rolls and sander to operate and dispense such sand as maybe in the truck body and the hoppers.

The rate at which sand is dispensed is controlled by the position of thesand gate lever 25 which in turn governs the tension on the sand gates20 thru the gate shaft 24 and the gate springs 26. Any rocks that may bein the sand will wedge between a feed roll and a gate and force thefloor gate open to discharge such rock. This is a very desirable featureas most sand is stockpiled for winter use and under such conditions isapt to contain at least an occasional rock. This construction, also,allows materials to be used that is not closely sized.

By means of any suitable cables or links the tension on the floor gateand the speed of the sander engine may be remotely controlled from thedrivers seat in the cab of the truck. These controls may be provided sothat as the speed of the truck on a highway is varied, the rate of sanddelivery may be varied.

In the modification of Figure 6, the spinner discs 137 and 138 are shownas parallel but with the plane of one disc above the plane of the other.The spinner spindles 141, 142 are parallel.

The modification of Figure 7 shows the spinner discs 237 and 238 asnon-parallel but having a common diameter. The spindles 241 and 242 arenon-parallel to each other and normal to this common diameter. Othermodifications of the relative positioning of the discs may be made. Theobject of the positioning of-the discs as shown in Figures 6 and 7 isthat there will be a minimum of interference between the sand thrown byone disc and that thrown by the other.

In the operation of the present device, the tail gate of an ordinaryrear dump body truck is raised and the hopper unit inserted thereunder.The hopper hooks 16, 17 are adjusted over the top of the tail gate tohold the hopper unit in place and the lower edge is bolted to the backedge of the body floor. The hopper wings are swung out to engage thesides of the truck and prevent sand from escaping along the sides of thehopper unit. The dispenser unit is then secured to the hopper unit byplacing the feed roll shaft 23 in the slots 29 in the hanger plateswhich are attached to the hopper unit. This feed -roll shaft carries thewhole dispenser unit. The shaft is secured in the slots by means of thelock bars 36. The crank arm 51 is then secured between the truck chassisand the dispenser unit in the manner described.

Then with the body of the truck filled with sand and the engine running,the truck may be driven down a highway and sanding commenced by raisingthe body This raising of the body operates the clutch lever series toengage the engine clutch and activate the feed rolls and the spinnerdiscs. Under these conditions sand is fed past the feed rolls and downthe chutes onto the spinner discs which directionally dispense it overthe highway. This direction of dispensing is maintained parallel to thetruck chassis by the crank link 51 and the other members of the four-barlinkage. as the body is raised and lowered. The rate of sand dispensingis governed by regulating the speed of the engine and the spring tensionon the floor gate.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A sander'adapted for use witha truck having a chassis, dump body, andtail gate, comprising: a chute for receiving sand from said body thrusaid gate as said body is raised, a pivot, means for securing said-pivotbetween said body and chute for ,pivotally supporting said chute,mechanism below said chute for receiving sand therefrom and fordirectionally dispensing such sand, and link means between said chute,mechanism, and such chassis for maintaining a desired dispensingdirection of said chute and mechanism with respect to said chassisregardless of the position of said dump body.

2. A truck sander, comprising: a hopper having formed therein an outletopening, a feed roll, means for rotatably supporting said feed roll insaid outlet opening, a chute below said hopper and roll, means pivotallysuspending said chute about the axisof said roll, and sand dispensingmeans below said chute for receiving sand; from said hopper, roll,andchute.

3. A sander adapted for use with a truck having a chassis, a rear dumpbody, a trunnion placed transversely of and secured between said chassisand body, and a tail gate, comprising: a hopper for receiving sand fromsaid body and said hopper having formed therein an outlet opening, afeed roll, means for rotatably supporting said feed roll in said hopperparallel to said trunnion and in said outlet opening for moving sandtherethru, a chute below said hopper and roll for receiving sand fromsaid hopper and roll, means pivotally supporting said chute for movementabout the axis of said roll, mechanism associated with said chute forreceiving sand therefrom and for directionally dispensing such sand, andmeans forming a four-bar linkage having its fixed link formed by suchchassis, two parallel cranks equal in length, and a movable connectingrod formed by said chute for maintaining a desired dispensing directionof said mechanism with respect to such chassis regardless of theposition of such dump body; in operation, one of the cranks of suchlinkage having a center on the axlils of such trunnion and a center onthe axis of said ro 4. A sander adapted for use with a truck having achassis, a rear-dump body, a trunnion about which said body swings onsaid chassis, and said body formed with Y a tail gate opening,comprising: a hopper adapted to be inserted in and to close such tailgate opening; extending transversely of said chassis and body anelongated discharge opening formed in said hopper, and a feed roll and aresilient gate closing said discharge opening, said roll adapted to feedsand transversely of its axis; a conical chute for receiving sand fromsaid hopper and roll; a spinner plate below said chute; means to rotatesaid feed roll and spinner plate; and link means adapted to maintainfixed the angle of the axes of said chute and spinner plate with respectto the plane of said chassis as said body is swung on said trunnion.

5. A sander adapted for use with a truck having a chassis, a rear-dumpbody, a trunnion about which said body swings on said chassis, and saidbody formed with a tail gate opening, comprising: a hopper adapted to beinserted in and to close such tail gate opening; extending transverselyof said chassis and body an elongated discharge opening formed in saidhopper and a feed roll and a resilient gate closing said dischargeopening, said roll adapted to feed sand transversely of its axis; aconical chute for receiving sand from said hopper and roll; a spinnerplate below said chute; said chute and spinner plate being pivoted toswing about the axis of said roll; means to rotate said feed roll andsaid spinner plate; and link means adapted to swing said chute andspinner plate about the axis of said roll to maintain fixed the angle ofthe axes of said chute and spinner plate with respect to the plane ofsaid chassis as said body is swung on said trunnion.

6. A truck sander, comprising: a hopper having formed therein an outletopening, a feed roll, means for rotatably supporting said feed roll insaid outlet opening, a chute below said hopper and roll, sand dispensingmeans below said chute for receiving sand from said hopper, roll, andchute, and means pivotally suspending said chute and dispensing meansabout the axis of said roll; said dispensing means including a pair ofsand dispensing discs, means for rotating said discs, and the planes ofsaid discs being non-coplanar.

7. A truck sander adapted for use with a truck having a chassis, a dumpbody formed with a tail gate opening, and a tail gate having itsposition adjustable to close or not close said opening, comprising: ahopper, means for attaching said hopper Within the tail gate opening ofa dump body so that it closes said opening instead of said opening beingclosed by the tail gate of said body, a chute for receiving sand fromsaid hopper as said dump body is raised, mechanism below said chute forreceiving sand therefrom and for directionally dispensing such sand, apivot, means for securing said pivot between said hopper, mechanism, andchute for pivotally supporting said chute and mechanism on and belowsaid hopper, and link means between said chute, mechanism, and suchchassis for maintaining a desired dispensing direction of said chute andmechanism regardless of the position of said hopper and such dump body.

8. A truck sander, comprising: a hopper having formed therein an outletopening, means for attaching said hopper within the tail gate opening ofa truck dump body, a feed roll, means for rotatably supporting said feedroll in said outlet opening, a chute below said hopper and roll, meanspivotally suspending said chute about the axis of said roll, and sanddispensing means below said chute for receiving sand from said hopper,roll, and chute.

9. A truck sander, comprising: a hopper having formed therein an outletopening, means for attaching said hopper within the tail gate opening ofa truck dump body, a feed roll, means for rotatably supporting said feedroll in said outlet opening, a pair of chutes below said hopper androll, said chutes being along said roll, sand dispensing means belowsaid chutes for receiving sand from said hopper, roll, and chutes, andmeans pivotally suspending said chutes and dispensing means about theaxis of said roll; said dispensing means including a pair of sanddispensing discs, one disc below each chute, means for rotating saiddiscs, and the planes of said discs being noncoplanar.

10. A truck sander, comprising: a hopper having formed therein an outletopening, means for attaching said hopper within the tail gate opening ofa truck dump body, a feed roll, means for rotatably supporting said feedroll in said outlet opening, a pair of chutes below said hopper androll, said chutes being along said roll, sand dispensing means belowsaid chutes for receiving sand from said hopper, roll, and chutes, andmeans pivotally suspending said chutes and dispensing means about theaxis of said roll; said dispensing means including a pair of sanddispensing discs, one disc below each chute and centrally alignedtherewith, means for rotating said discs, and the planes of said discsbeing non-coplanar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

